Automatic circuit-breaker.



C. C. BADEAU.

AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPLICATION FIILED FEB. x7. 1911.

LIGGO. Patented Jn. 4, 1916.

UNITED ASTATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. BADEAU, OF WINTHROP,' MASSACHUSETTS, SSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY. A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC cmcuirfnnnaitnn.

incarico.

-Specicationiofletters Fatent.

' Patented Jan. 4., 1916.

State of Massachusetts have invented certain -new and useful Improvements in `l-ifutomatic Circuit-Jreakers, of which the'. following is a full, clear, and exact specificaw rl`his invention relates to an automatic switch or a circuit breakerof durable construction, ellicient operation and simplicity and cheapness of manufacture.

One feature of the improvements involves the mounting of a tripmagnet in a "vertical position and supporting the switch lever' and trip mechanism thereon outwardly from the panel or supporting board, and an ar rangement of tlic fixed contact orcontacts by which the circuit is made and broken at an inclined position with're'spect to the face of the support so that the switch arm in the closed position of the breaker folds inwardly toward'the board, the result being that when the breaker opens a wide break is secured, without the arm projecting` far beyond the plane of the switchboard. in other words, the breaker performs its functions -wit'h va wide angular movement within a smallI vertical and horizontal compass.

The invention embodies various structural features improving the operation and du-4 rability of the breaker, which will be more fully hereinafter described .and which will be definitely pointed out inthe claims.

In the drawings,` Figure l is a side elevation, partlyin' section, of al circuit'breakei embodying` my improvements. Figs/:2,3 and l are detached views 'of parts of the breaker.

Referring to the drawings, l represents a supporting' panel of slate or other good fireproof insulating material'. On the-face of the panel is secured a copperyoke 2, on which isi-mounted a soft iron magnet core 3. On the'outer side -of the yoke is a i pivoted switch arm el journaled in a bracket mounted on the yoke, the arm beingpivoted near its end so that the yoke may act as a stop toA arrest the movement of the arm y when released and thrown to its open posi tion by a coiled spring 5, the free'endA of whichbears against the support and the I other is attached to the movable arm. The lrear end of the' arm is providedjwith a roller'G-coijperating with an arc-shaped rel vcess inthe-end of a spring-pressed latch 7 tohold. the 'switch arin' iii closed position.

gravity controlled armature 8 mounted on the saine pivot as the latch 7 vmay be 'y adjusted relatively to thefield of the magnet y' 3 by means of a Calibrating screw 9 supe ported in the outer end of the bracket. The

l armature 8 is forked, as indicatedVinFig. 3,

its arms being drilled to rock on a. pivot and has a beveled face l() lying, when the parts are assembled, in operative relation to the heel 11 of the latch 7. The latcliing mechanism thus described is of cheap comvv struction but is rugged and veryeasily tripped, since the arc shaped shoulder lying at a' right angle to the roller cannot be cooperating-shunt contact' 13 is mounted on a leaf spring,- le fastened to the fixed con-- tact l5.` The latter is bolted to the support or panel and hasits engaging face lying at an incline to the facefof the panel, as indicated4 in Fig. l. vThe cooperating brush contact l5',1 is mounted on the magnet yoke 2 and has a similarcoperating face also at an angle to the panel and in substantial alinement with the contact l5. The lami- -nated brush '16 formed of a bundle of thin v17 carries a threaded stud on whichl the vcned b v forcible circuit closure, anil.the

brush eiliciency is very niuchfreduced .f'inoreover, a too forcible closure of the switch i ii 91 Liemeer) arm cannot permit the roller to overshoot tainty when the breaker is closed.

Having thus described my invention What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, iszl. An automatic circuit breaker' comprising a trip coil mounted With its magnetic axis parallel to the supporting board, a U-shaped frame embracing and supporting said coil, one side of said frame being secured tothe supporting board, the other side extending outwardly from the supportingboard, a switch arm pivoted on said` frame, a laminated bridging member carried by said switch arm on one sidethereof, a handle stationarily carried by said switch arm on the opposite side thereof, a Contact fixed to said frame and having its engaging surface inclined to the face of the support ing board, a second Contact fixed to the supporting board and having its engaging surface. in substantially the same plane as the engaging surface of said first named contact, said contacts coperating with said laminated bridging member, a spring pressed latch pivotally supported by said frame, and a pivoted gravity armature in the magnetic field of the coil and carried by said frame.

2. A circuit breaker provided With a switch arm, a laminated brush, and a stiff leaf in the brush adapted in full closing position p of the circuit to form a stop to prevent the brush being strained and arrest the breaker in latching position. ln testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

' CHARLES C. BDEAU. Witnesses (liras. E. ENGLAND, WALTER S. HART.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, ID. C. 

